Magneto



P. W. FULLER MAGNETO Filed Oct, l2,` 1921 sept. 18, 1923.

Patented Sept. 18, 1,923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PERCY W. FULLER, 0F WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN C. W. BEALL, 0F WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

MAGNETO.

Applicatln led October 12, 1921. Serial N0. 507,257.

T o all whom t may cof/werft.'

Be it known that I, PERCY IV. FULLER, citizen of the United States of America, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Magnetos, of which the following is a specification.

` My present invention relates to certain novel and useful improvements in magneto construction.

In carrying out the present invention it is my purpose to provide a magneto construction in which the usual revolving coils or windings will be eliminated and wherein by means of a mechanically operated reluctance or magnetic resistance introducing means the desired electrical current may be set up in the winding.

It is also my purpose to provide a magneto construction which will embody the desired features of simplicity, efficiency and durability, which may be manufactured and marketed 'at comparatively small cost and wherein the component parts will be so arranged and co-related as to reduce the possibility of derangement to a minimum.

With the above recited objects and advantages in View, andothers of a similar nature, the invention resides in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth in and fallingV within the vscope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing forming part ofv this specification:

Figure l is a side elevation partly in section of a magneto constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure 1. l f

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan view showing ya detail of the invention.

Figure 4 is a diagram showing the arrangement of one of the cam grooves employed in my magneto construction.

In the present instance my improved magneto embodies a pair of magnets 1y-l arranged side by side andin edge to edge contact and forming a magnetic' field unit. These magnets are of the horseshoe type and formed in the pole ends thereof cen trally of the edges of the unit are axially alining openings k22. Mounted in these openings in some suitable manner and suitably secured therein as by bronze bushings 3 are p'olepieces 4. These pole pieces extend inwardly toward the center of the magnetic field unit and the inner ends thereof are in edge to edge contact, while the outer ends terminate fiush with the outer surfaces of the poles of the magnetic field unit. These pole pieces 4-Ll are cylindrical in cross secn tion and in the form of sleeves composed of soft iron or a similar magnetic material. In the present instance the confronting ends of the sleeve-like pole pieces 4 on the inner surfaces thereof are formed with cooperating rabbets 5 in which are mounted the secondary winding 6 and the primary wind-ing 7, the latter being disposed within the secondary winding and having its inner surface flush with the inner surfaces of the sleeve-like pole pieces, as clearly illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawing.

Mounted within the sleeve-like pole pieces 4 are cylindrical reluctance members 8 preferably composed of soft iron and having the inner ends confronting each other and the outer ends projecting throijlgh and beyond the pole pieces 4f, as shown in Figure l. These reluctance members are sleeve-like in form and are supported in the pole pieces by means of bronze bushings 9, so that the reluctance members may be revolved within the pole pieces with a minimum amount of friction and also moved longitudinally therein, so as to bring the confronting ends of such members toward and away from' each other. The inner end of one of these members is equipped with abronze disk 10 that acts to prevent the reluctance members adhering to each other in the reciprocal movement thereof.

Extending through the alining sleevelike reluctance members 8 is a driving shaft l1 formed of bronzeor 4other noinmagnetic material and the ends of this shaft are suitably mounted in anti-friction members 12 carried by a base 1.3 upon which the ends of the horseshoe mangnets forming the field unit rest, this base being of any suitable or conventional construction.

In the present instance the reluctance members 8 are secured to the shaft l1 by means of splines lll which act to revolve the reluctance members with the shaft and at the same time permit rectilinear movement of the reluctance members relative to the shaft.

Surrounding the reluctancemembers adjacent to the outer ends thereof are collars lcircular in cross section and having the inner ends thereot threaded into the outer extremities ot the pole pieces i, as at IG, or otherwise connected thereto.

In this embodiment ot my invention the inner ends. that is to say, the endsot the collars l5 in proximity to the ot the field unit. are termed with outwardly eX- tending` tianges i7, while the outer ends ot` theiicollars I5 rest within anti-friction bearing members 1S ot appropriate construction that are carried by disks '1,9 formed inte-gral with or otherwise connected to the outer extremities ot' the reluctance members Interposed between the collars l5 and the reductance members S are bronze bush- HO that constitute bearings for the outer ings i extremities oif the reluctance members and co-act with the bushings S) in order to permit'I tree rotation and rectilinear movement oi the reluctance members.

In the construction that I have selected tor illustrative purposes. the collars lo constitute not only hearing members for the outer ends ot the reluctance members. but also act a means to impart a reciprocal movement ot the reluctance members S. and tor this purpose the inner walls otl the respective collars *lo are termed with camlike grooves 2l in which ride journaled upon pins carried by the reluctance members and projecting outwardly i'rom such members. as clearly shown in Figure lV and Figure 4;. Springs Q?) surround the respective collars lo and the inner end ot each spring` bears against the tlange l? while the outer end engages the corresponding anti-friet ion bearing member Y1S, so as to exert, an outward pressure upon such lcaring member. and thereby hold the reluctance member S at its limit ot outward movement. so that the inner ends of such members will be normallyT spaced apart .as

shown in Figure l.

In this instance the cam grooves 2i in the respective collars l5 are spaced apart at an angle of 900 so that the magneto may be used with a vertical cylindrical motor. IVhen. however. my improved magneto is to he used with a motor oi the V-type, then the. angle at which the cam grooves are arranged is changed. In order to change .such angle the pole pieces t to which the collars l5 are rigidly attached are adjusted cirrumterentially relative to cach other and locked at such adjusted position. It is conceivable that any means may be employed tor locking these pole pieces. but in this form of my invention I show a latch member .f2-l that is Xedly secured to the inner end ot one of the pole pieces and that is inter 'hangeable with notches formed in the corresponding end ot the other pole piece.y as depicted in vFigure 3 of the drawing.

In the operation of my improved magrollers Q2 Y neto the shaft 1l is driven in some suitable manner. as by a gear 2b' `l'ormcd on the peripherjvY ot one oit the disks it) and designed to mesh with a similar gear driven trom the crank shai't ot the internal combustion motor. In the operation o1 the sha'tl ll the reluctance members S. owing to the spline M. revolve with the shalt, and in the revolution oli the reluctance. members the rollers 22 riding within the cam groove Qi. oscillate the reluctance members. llue to the position ot' the cam grooves Q1 with respect to each other one reluctance member remains stationary. and vice versa. ln the continued operation ot the reluctance members it will be seen that reluctance is removed trom the magnetic circuit as the inner ends ot the members move together, thereby makin g two magnetic paths. one inside and the other outside ot the coils G and T. (h1 the other hand, when the inner ends ot the reluctance members separate. destroying the shunt magnetic path inside ot the colis. then a re luctance or magnetic resistance is introduced into the inside magnetic circuit thereby generating an IC. M. F. ot high tension within the coils due to the linx linkage ot the magnetic lines sweeping by the, coils to the outside magnetic path.

In order to change the time oi the reluctance one of the collars I5 provided with a n arm '2T that may bel connected with a suitable hand controlled lever, so that the collars l5 and the field pieces t may be rotated within the openings formed in the tield unit. in order to change the position ot the cam grooves QTL with respect to the rollers. so that the spark may be obtained in the cylinders ot the motor at the desired period in the travel ot the piston. as is readily understood to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

It will be seen that I have provided a magneto construction wherein the usual coils constituting the armature remains stationary in the magnetic field set up by the field unit, while the necessary current is generated in such coils through the medium of a reluctance introducing means which not only revolves within the coils but also reciprocates therein. so as to set, up and diminish the necessary magnetic resistance to influence the flow ot current through the coils forming part oif the outside circuit.

lVhile I have herein shown and described one particular form of my invention by way of illustration. I wish it to be understood. that I do not limit myself to the precise details ot' construction herein described and delineated in the accompanying drawings. as modifications and variations may be made within the scope of the claims without departingr from the spirit. ot' the invention.

I claim:

l. In magneto construction, a magnet de- Cin signed to produce a magnetic flux and formed with alining openings adjacent to the ends thereof, pole pieces mounted in said openings and capable of movement therein, windings within said pole pieces and arranged within the influence of the magnetic flux set up by the pole pieces of said magnet, mechanically operated means within said windings for varying the flow of the magnetic flux through the same whereby an electrical current will be produced within said windings, and means for moving said pole pieces relative to said first mentioned means to change the timing of the current in the outside circuit.

2. In a magneto construction, a magnet designed. to produce a magnetic flux and formed with alining openings adjacent to the ends thereof, pole pieces mounted in said openings, windings Within said pole pieces and arranged within the iniiuence of the magnetic flux set up by the pole pieces of said magnet and mechanically operated means within said windings for varying the ilow of the magnetic flux through the same whereby an electrical current will be produced in said windings, said mechanically operated means comprising a shaft extending through said pole pieces axially thereof, sleeve-like reluctance members encircling said shaft within said pole pieces, respectively, and splined to said shaft, and means for koscillating said reluctance members on said shaft in the rotation of the latter and means for rotating said shaft.

3. In a mangneto construction, a magnet designed to produce' a magnetic flux and formed with alining openings adjacent to the ends thereof, pole pieces mounted in said openings, windings within said pole pieces and arranged within the influence of the magnetic flux set up by the pole pieces of said magnet and mechanically operated means within said windings for varying the flow of the magnetic flow through the same whereby an electrical current will be produced in said windings, said mechanically operated means comprising a shaft extending through said pole pieces axially thereof, sleeve-like reluctance members encircling said shaft within said pole pieces, respectively, and splined to said shaft, said last named means comprising collars surrounding said reluctance members, respectively, at the outer ends thereof and connected to said pole pieces and formed with cam-like grooves, and rollers carried by said reluctance members riding in said grooves, and means for driving said shaft.

4. In a mangneto construction7 a magnet designed to produce a magnetic ux and formed with alining openings adjacent to the ends thereof, pole pieces mounted in said openings, windings within said pole pieces and arranged within the influence of the magnetic flux set up by the pole pieces of said magnet and mechanically operated means within said windings for varying the flow of the magnetic flux through the same whereby an electrical current will be produced in said windings, said mechanically operated means comprising a shaft extending through said pole pieces axially thereof, sleeve-like reluctance members encircling said shaft within said pole pieces, respectively, and splined to said shaft, said last named means comprising collars surrounding said reluctance members, respectively, at the outer ends thereof, and connected to said pole pieces and formed with cam-like grooves, rollers carried by said reluctance members riding in said grooves and means for driving said shaft, and means whereby said sleeves and pole pieces may be shifted circumferentially relative to said sleeve-like reluctance members to change the timing of the current in the outside circuit.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

PERCY W. FULLER. Vitnesses:

BURNn'r'r S. JONES, D. M. OSTERMAN. 

